Hermes wasn't used to peacefulness, he had to admit. Olympus was a never-ending cesspool of scandal, tiresome squabbles, nosiness, and the inevitable bickering from his fellow deities. Gods were hotheaded. Rambunctious, and stubborn to a fault. Himself included, at times, but even he grew tired of the game and dance at times.
He tried his best to avoid the worst culprits as often as possible, though there was really no way to completely do so when you were all immortal. Hera, perpetually obnoxious and jealous of anything her husband seemed to get up to. Ares, forever on a war path and prone to conflict with anyone in front of him. Athena, who could both bore you with her vast knowledge and threaten you with war should she get the impression that you're not listening.
Even Persephone, who he otherwise got along with fine, could grow incredibly insufferable and vindictive when she learned of someone cursing her name. He much preferred to skip the graphic descriptions of violence her Furies unleashed upon those poor souls. It was best to catch her only when in a good mood.
No. There was never a moment of quiet--of peace--within the marble halls of Olympus. Even when it sorely needed it.
Thus, when Zeus wasn't sending him away with some message or other, he often found himself relaxing in Greece's mountainous and fertile countryside, watching the sway of the tall grass in the wind, and listening to the lapping of the waves against the patches of sandy shore further beyond it.
He often donned the human name and guise of Marco, a wandering laborer, and sat amongst the mortal shepherds who sought his blessing and favor for healthy flocks and herds. They shared stories of their, admittedly, quite boring lives. But there was something inherently fascinating about their finiteness, Hermes had discovered. Their futile hope for ascension to the home of the gods, for strength and everlasting life, and for so much more than they could ever be.
While he held no desire to grant them such wishes, they intrigued him all the same. What wild imaginations human had...
One particular shepherd always caught his eye. A simple man, one could go so far as to claim you unremarkable from the outside. The one who tended to Hermes' favorite hill, the most scenic of spots to sit and ponder one's godly existence. You were just as any other shepherd would be, if another god were to be asked.
But your humbleness, your...piety. Hermes was drawn like cattle to water. Between your daily tasks of tending to chickens and sheep, and growing the small garden beside your home, you always made time to thank him for his continued blessing, unknowing just how focused that watchful eye truly was. The last words before your evening sleep were thanks in honor of him, and the first words out of your mouth come morning were requests for a productive and safe tending.
Never more than that. Never greedy or presumptuous pleads for riches or curses upon those who crossed you. Just an average day's work as the day before it had been, which he found worthy of his admiration.
You enjoyed your profession, that much was clear. He caught you smiling to yourself often as you sat on your rolling hills of green and looked out at the stunning view, feasting on your meager rations of bread and figs.
Your lot in life was less than, say, a councilman of Athens or a merchant of exotic goods. Your house was made of plain mud bricks, the thatched roof often needed repair, a task you went about with minimal complaints. You labored and bled and sweat, marching ever onwards to your inevitable demise.
A simple man enjoying his simple life. That's what you were.
And Hermes wondered what that would be like, to live as you did. What would be the harm in finding out?
He'd noticed the signs of wear over time. The days upon months upon years of hard labor was exhausting, and with a land as mountainous and large as your own, it was difficult to complete by yourself. You seemed to arrive later and later to your bed each night, feeling less refreshed when morning finally came to begin again. The endless cycle of work was grinding you down.
At first, Hermes pitied you. The toils of a human, while he could never fully understand them, was still obvious. And he didn't wish his favorite shepherd a difficult life. You were dutiful, a faithful follower. Such dedication to one's god surely deserved a reward?
Ah! That's when a brilliant plan came to mind. One that would satisfy both Hermes' need to moments of peace from his rambunctious siblings, and bring you some respite from your growing hardship.
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Hermes had never approached you directly. Why disrupt your hard work? Watching from a distance had always been fine with him. So it was a strange feeling to descend down towards your small, mud-brick hut set against the mountainside.
You were out in the field, crook in hand as you herded your animals towards the water to drink. Cloaked in your furs to shield you from the morning's drizzle, it wasn't until Hermes had reached you that he noticed your approach.
"I am told that Y/N lives around here." Hermes speaks probingly.
"Ah...welcome, stranger." You say with a surprised, yet pleasant greeting. You didn't received many visitors. "I am indeed Y/N. You've come to the right place."
"I am Marco of Thessaloniki." Hermes stated, bracing himself to stand more comfortably on the mountain's steep incline. "Pleasant greetings."
"As to you." You greet. Before bracing yourself on your wooden crook. "Such a distance you've traveled from home. What brings you to my humble mountain?"
Hermes smiles. You're just as nice to speak with as you are to observe going about your business. "I am looking for work while I remain in this region. Word around is that you might be looking for an extra hand to tend to your animals?"
He sees the way you duck your head down, perhaps hurt by the thought that you couldn't take care of your own herds alone, but after a slow blink, you do eventually nod.
"The days feel shorter, though I think my movement simply grows slower day by day. Yes. I would be foolish to refuse a helping hand." Then, you look over him with a keen eye. "Have you experience as a shepherd?"
"I'm quite familiar with the profession."
"And when do you return to Thessaloniki?" He asks curiously.
"Hmm...I suppose when I feel I must. There are no pressing matters that would require me to be elsewhere." He states matter-of-factly. Hermes hadn't really thought much about how long he'd spend walking the Earth, shirking his duties in Olympus. There might be wrath from the others come a later time, but he'd handle that when the time came.
You nod, slowly and thoughtfully at his answer. "There is not much I could offer by way of wage, but if food and a roof over your head will suffice...?"
"It's an honor to be welcomed into your home." Hermes says with a short bow of his head.
Your smile returns, this time with a bit of excitement shining in your eyes, and you reach out an empty hand to him. "You're a blessing from Hermes himself. I thank you."
The disguised god lifts a subtle brow, eyeing the extended hand for only a moment before clasping it with his own, sealing the arrangement between you. He envisioned the outrage of a god allowing a human to shake his hand, but thankfully there were no other gods around to witness such an exchange.
You eagerly gestured for him closer, intent on showing you everything he'd need to know about tending to your animals. Hermes found it amusing, and quite ironic. Playing the part of a poor human wanderer was turning out to be quite...enjoyable. What a different perspective.
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Marco was...interesting. A stranger, a wanderer, traveling wherever he felt he wanted to. It was difficult to fathom a nomadic life such as that, never having ventured out past your mountain and flocks. This was the lands of your family, passed down through generations. It felt...wrong to leave it.
But your unexpected guest was welcome company. He learned quickly, as if it came naturally, the ways to tend to your sheep and chickens. He could scale the mountains as if he'd lived there all his life, and had an uncanny way with the animals. They went where he shepherded them with little resistance.
Within days, you felt you could trust him enough to shepherd them alone, giving you opportunity to tend to your garden and the small tasks around your home that had gone neglected for months. Mending tunics and sealing your roof where the rain often leaked through.
Thanks to Marco's diligence, and hard work, you were left with ample free time to partake in leisure activities. Gods, you don't remember the last time you'd gone to a tavern to partake in merriment with the rest of your town. It had been quite some time since you'd last seen some of them. It was high time for some relaxation, you felt.
"Marco." You call, waving to him from further down the mountainside. A drizzle softly wet your hair and tunic, and you shielded your eyes from the rain. He turns, giving a smile in greeting and waving in return. Using the shepherd's crook to help him up the mountain, careful on the slick terrain, he approaches to make conversation easier.
"Y/N. You called for me?"
"I did. You've been doing well with the herds." You say, giving him a sturdy nod. "The animals like you, and your hard work is appreciated."
The wanderer hums, turning his gaze back to the sheep beyond. "They are gentle creatures. I think I relate to them in some ways."
Something about the way he spoke hit something deep in your chest. It's not the first time you'd felt such a thing around him. You highly doubted it would be the last. But you do your best to brush it off, for now.
"I know what you mean." You reply, finally clearing your throat and gesturing behind you. "But hard work should be balanced with rest and entertainment, too. We should both head into town and enjoy ourselves tonight. We deserve it after a week of labor."
"So long as there's a decent tavern near. Alcohol is in order." Marco replied, shifting on his feet and coming closer. "Shall we see if I can drink you under the table? I'd wager it."
"Ha! I've strong genes, Marco. You'll find I hold my mead quite well."
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Being a mortal shepherd was, as he should have expected, quite boring. Repetitive and routine, doing the same task day in and day out but...that is what he'd wanted to experience, wasn't it? A break from the chaos that was Olympus.
Being mortal was so limiting. Hermes could do whatever he so wished, his godly existence couldn't quite be contained to a single, mortal form entirely, but consciously keeping his glory restrained when on Earth was...partially exhausting. But worth it, if he was being honest.
The silence, and the calm, was blissful. He'd never enjoyed the view of the sunset more than he had the past 2 weeks. Apollo would never get over himself if he found out Hermes' thought regarding that, but that was besides the point.
He'd been right. You were a fascinating and yet quite ordinary human. You worked, you slept. You enjoyed the simple things that life brought you with humility, and never seemed to envy what you believed you'd never have, what others might have that you did not.
Hermes wanted to make you laugh. Wanted to see you clutch your belly with amusement as he told you a joke, or recounted the stories of the incredibly ridiculous adventures of your many siblings. It was easy enough to mask them behind names and faces you didn't know. You probably thought half of them were fictitious fables, but you seemed to enjoy them all the same.
Your kindness touched him. While your home was small, and the bed he'd provided for you was little more than a bed of straw topped with a few meager blankets and hides to keep it slightly warmer in the damp autumn, it was all you could give, and more than enough for Hermes to be humbled by the offering. You were a honorable man. Worthy of a god's attention.
Hermes knew you were special. He knew he liked being here with you. But...he'd have to return to Olympus eventually. What would he do then?
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That afternoon, you sat upon the small stone wall that separated your abode from the rest of your land, watching from afar as your companion tended to your animals. You'd finished your tasks early, and waited for him to return from the herding.
He was almost...perfect. You never recalled meeting another person quite like him, in all of your days. Even if asked, you were sure you could pinpoint what about him was different, but you supposed it didn't matter. Marco was blessed by the gods, you thought, handsome beyond your most alluring imagination.
Watching him work, easily handling the shepherds crook with ease, you found it difficult to look away. You got the impression that you were witnessing a master at work. Funny, because between the two of you, you were certain you had more experience in years.
He was witty, funny. A most interesting individual, always ready with a story of a person he'd met or a place he'd visited. From his tales, he was quite traveled. You could only envision the places he described with your mind's eye. They sounded so fascinating.
Was it strange? To feel this way, this yearning in your gut, after only having known him a few weeks? You'd never felt so connected to another person.
What's more, could you handle watching him go, when he did eventually move on? Could your heart take it? Your life had become so lively, less lonely, since he'd arrived. Could you simply go back to having only your sheep to keep you company? The longer he stayed, the further entrenched into your heart he became. And worse the pain would linger.
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"I'll be heading into the market today for some oil and wheat. Our supplies now are nearly gone." You told him, packing up your small rucksack and flashing him a grin. "Don't miss me too much while I'm gone."
"There's no need to worry. I've the sheep to keep me company." Marco shot back with a chuckle. "But if you simply want me to say I'll miss you, then yes, of course I will."
Your head shakes with mirth, before you raise a hand in departure and leave the shelter of your stone home. Marco sighs, standing and preparing to herd the sheep for the day. He opens the door and, thankfully, the rain that had come through the past few days seems to have cleared. The skies were sunny and blue. Marco takes a step out and heads towards where the sheep were.
A laugh to his right stops him.
"You're getting mighty cozy down here, Hermes."
A man, black-haired and freckled, sits upon the low stone wall that borders your home, pinning quite an amused smile in Marco's direction. He looked all but normal, dressed in typical clothing, but the unmistakable light of the immortals makes him shine and glow, even in the daylight.
Well, it was his own daylight, Marco supposed. He could make it as bright or as dim as he wanted.
"Apollo." The god greets with an unrestrained sigh. "Aren't you supposed to be guiding the sun? Why are you here?"
"Ah, we're on Earth, Hermes. Down here, just call me Ace." He gives a laugh, before hopping off of the stone wall and straightening to stand across from him. "Zeus sent me to find you."
Right. It had been weeks since the Big Man had even crossed his mind. And even when it did, he'd always pushed it aside as a problem to deal with later. "Of course he did..."
"You've been gone for weeks, Hermes. What did you expect?" 'Ace' gave a shrug, making it a show to look around with interest. "Look, I get the urge to toy with a human a little every once in awhile, but this is a bit much, don't you think? Have your lay with him and move on. You have duties to attend to, just like the rest of us."
Brows furrowing into a frown, Marco had to restrain the urge to hit the other immortal. They could be so dense. "My interest in Y/N isn't so fickle."
Ace holds up his hands, a gesture of tracking back his words. "Alright, alright...but you are a god, and he is a mortal. Olympus is where you belong."
"Olympus is fine without me for a while longer."
"They have Dionysus delivering messages in your stead, but he gets drunk or loses them before they get delivered. It's quite a mess at the moment."
That prompts a short, barked laugh from Marco, who could only envision the notorious lush trying to do his job. Oh dear...
This time, when Ace looks at him, he sees a modicum of understanding and pity. "You are needed, Hermes. Finish what you need to here, and then return, sooner rather than later."
The freckled man points out, before looking to the side conspiratorially, and leaning in close to speak a bit lower. "Besides, you know Zeus won't hesitate to remove the object of your interest to get you to come back. Don't irk him further, if you really do care about the human."
Marco is silent, wishing the truth wasn't so. Zeus' temper and petty punishments that were too severe for the crime was well-known. And while he'd never been the object of such ire before, he now worried for Y/N's safety should he continue selfishly spending time down here on earth with him. Ahh, what a mess...
Ace stepped back, his glow illuminating brighter, and with a wave in farewell and a snap of his fingers, he was gone. With swirling thoughts heavy on his mind, Marco continued along the mountain to find your sheep.
Damn it all...
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Dinner that night is tense and uncomfortable. You ate quietly, with your wooden spoons and wooden bowls. For the first time since Marco had arrived, you felt the air prickle with...something. Your companion seemed to be missing his typical easygoing nature, and conversation felt stilted.
You knew, deep down, what it meant. You knew. Despite the hollow feeling in your heart, it wouldn't do to deny what you knew was true.
Some minutes passed, with you wondering how you'd broach the subject, or if it would be best to allow him to tell you first. But after some time, and that heartbreak brimming just under the surface, you clear your throat and draw Marco's attention.
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
His expression is torn, as if he debated his answer internally, but eventually he nods. "I am. These weeks have been kind to me. Any longer and I'll have overstayed my welcome, I think."
You work hard to keep the desperation from your voice. "Your welcome could never be overstayed. This is your home, for as long as you wish it to be."
"I have a home, elsewhere, that I must return to." He says, gently. As if he knew how hard they would stab into your heart.
"I...see." You say, clearing your throat again. Your chest burned. "When do you depart?"
"..." He looks away. And when he speaks, it's quiet. "Tonight."
"So soon? Why not wait until morning? You'll be able to start the day fresh tomorrow, and get a good night's sleep in."
His head shakes slowly. "It's better this way."
The sound of your aching heart is deafening in your ears. Could he hear it? Did he know how important he'd become to you, over these past few weeks? You feared the coming days, devoid of companions ship and so silent in their passing. All by yourself on this mountain. While the thought might have made you content before, now it just felt...empty.
But with a silent nod, you tuck away those feelings of disappointment. You stick them back where he might not see. Because you didn't want him to feel guilty for having to leave. It wasn't his fault. This day was inevitable. You'd known that from day one.
"Then I pray your journey is swift and safe." You stand from your seat, needing something to do. "But, I shan't leave you empty-handed before you depart. Take the remaining food with you, so you may not go hungry when you set out."
"You've been too kind to me, Y/N." Marco says, standing as well. "I couldn't take more from you."
"Nonsense. I could not bear you leaving here unprepared." You say, gathering up the little food that remained from your meal. You go over to your small basket hung from the wall and snatch out a swatch of cloth. You set the food in the middle--and throw in a few spices and herbs to improve the flavor--and tie the bundle up to protect it, and to prevent it from falling out.
"Here." You turn and hand him the bundle, smiling sadly. "It isn't much, I know. But I hope it will be enough to sate your hunger for even a moment. Long enough for you to reach somewhere that can serve you a mighty meal."
Marco stares down at the bundle for a long moment, contemplating. You almost worry that he will hand it back over, saying the meter portion was not worth him carrying it, but he simply looks back up to you and smiles.
And then...you think you're seeing things, but...he begins to glow.
You blink, unbelieving. The pale, soft blue light that emanates from him is...dazzling. He still looks all the same as before, but...even more handsome and perfect. You're not sure you could find any words to describe the feeling of tranquility and beauty that washes over your being. It was...god-like.
"Y/N." He says with such affection, stepping closer. "You are a remarkable human. Sheltering me within your home, without thought of reward, and offering such hospitality with selfless devotion."
You find you don't have the strength to move, too stunned and overwhelmed with realization. His free hand reaches out and gently cups your cheek, his thumb brushing skin. His voice sounds like bells and the trickle of a river, and the soft wind of summer, bringing with it a cool breeze. Your heart is full.
"I am Hermes, patron of the humble Shepherd, and you honor me with your kindness."
His lips press to yours. It's soft, and oh so warm. The thought of what kissing a god might be like had never crossed your mind, but now...you wondered how you could have gone so long without. Your eyes close, and you reciprocate the gesture, knowing that this would be your last moment with him. You wanted to make the most of it.
And despite there being no rush, it was over all too soon, Marco releasing your lips from his own. You breathe him in, foreheads pressed together as you gaze into each other's eyes. This moment is burned into your soul from there forward, as if you were born again.
"I give you a parting gift of my own." He says with a light smile. "Rest will refresh you tenfold. And tasks will no longer burden you the way they once did. Your vitality is rejuvenated, and you'll not tire after a day of tending your sheep."
You only nod, words snatched from your mouth. All of your focus was still on that kiss.
And then he steps back, his hand coming away from your cheek, blue glow dimming only slightly. He's magnificent, the god Hermes. His splendor overshadows your humble abode.
"Goodbye, Y/N, and know that I watch over you always." Is his parting promise, before he gives you one last loving smile and vanishes.
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